I have been having this frightening reoccurring dream where I am driving along a narrow road that exists in the middle of the air. This road is high in the sky with nothing on either side. For those who made the drive to Louisiana, it reminds me of that big bridge except straight, one narrow lane, and without guard rails. In my dream, I can feel my anxiety and fear as I drive along this road attempting to get to an unknown destination. I could see my eyes wide open in fear as I tried to keep from blinking. And it felt so real! I could feel the tears swelling as I thought about me plummeting off the road to my death and my heart racing as I attempted to get it and my fearful thoughts to quiet and slow down. There were times when things or cars would speed by out of nowhere, causing my hands to shake, therefore leading the car to also shake, then I would try to steady the car from drifting too far to either side; but my fear would lead me to be in constant look of things around me. I would often look to my left or right as I drove to make sure nothing or something was coming however, with each look, I would unconsciously steer the car in that direction, and each dream would inevitably lead to me driving the car off the road from the high place into the sky towards the ground.

As I would fall, my heart felt like it stopped beating, as if it was holding its own breath. I can recall my thoughts as I would be trapped in this falling car and it was always the same ones, “I can’t believe I am about to die like this!” Complete shock that I couldn’t make it across, “If I had only kept looking straight ahead and focused.” Then just as I am about to crash into the ground, I wake up. Every time, the same thing, until recently…

A few days ago, I had this dream but with a surprising twist. In the dream, I was once again on this narrow road high in the sky, but this time, as I looked ahead, there were crashing waves on the road in front of me. As terror rose up in me causing my heart and my hands to begin to tremble, “Oh my goodness, how am I going to get through that?!” I felt myself grip the steering wheel firmly with an intent to power through despite my fear. I didn’t look to my left or right, just straight ahead and prayed that either I will get through it to the other side or it will just simply, vanish. As I approached the waves, they didn’t disappear, but I did get through them and once out of them, I was safe and on land. I made it through. I made it across the narrow road.

As I reflected on this dream and took it to Jesus, while in prayer, I heard the Spirit of the Lord tell me, “You were once constantly falling off the narrow road of obedience and My will, but now, you will prevail and make it all the way across. Find peace in My truth, trust My word, and keep going.”

As frankly of this interpretation may appear now, The Lord blinded me from it until I sought His counsel, His wisdom and discernment. Once I heard it from Him, it brought me great comfort however there is a subliminal warning that I must also stay alert and watchful, just as His word commands (1 Peter 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Mark 13:33; 1 Corinthians 16:13). There are many things that seek to snatch our attention (our desires, temptations, our own will, friends, and even goals), wooing us to just gaze upon them, satisfying our flesh as it appeals to our eyes and heart’s desire, blinding us to their true burden and weight of sin as we adjust ourselves to accommodate them. Yet, we are instructed to not turn to the left or right (Proverbs 4:27; Deuteronomy 5:32) but rather, be like Jesus and endure for the joy set before us (Hebrews 12:2) for a heavenly prize (Philippians 3: 14).

I want to encourage you; I know the narrow gate of our faith and walk with Jesus is challenging and uncomfortable to endure. It can grow scary, intimidating, and fill us with weary. It tests our hope and faith in God and sometimes makes us question His love and goodness towards us. The destination ahead of us as it relates to the fate of our future, unknown, therefore renders us vulnerable and naturally want to take control. However, as with my dream, my attempt to be watchful of and control the things around me, just led to my demise.

As children of God, followers of Jesus, and bearers of the Holy Spirit, we can rest in His protection and know that wherever He leads us, is good, this is His promise (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28; Proverbs 16:9). And even when we see the waves ahead of us, He will safely get us through them and to the other side, so long we keep our gaze forward and on Him (Matthew 14:26-33).

Scripture References

"I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken". (Psalm 16:8)

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it". (Matthew 7:13-14)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5)